4/11/2007
Herb Holland (AWA "U-Turn" private website editor, commentator, and critic) wrote:
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"U-Turn believes that the company’s final “final” will include a modest pay raise, but nowhere
close to our $165/$181/$190 demand of last November. We expect the rates to be two-tiered,
topping out at $149 and $156/hour. The 1 to 3.25 trip rig will most likely still be a part of the
proposal, but only if we accept 8:30 rest. There may actually be three rates, if you include the
E190 rates, from which we see little chance of the company increasing."
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All,
If this comes from Company sources, as Captain Holland states, then it's a trial balloon which
Management wants floated out to our pilot groups.
Let me help pop it for them:
1. Our 2007 ask is $125/$165/$181.50/$199.65 for top of scale Captain's pay for the E190, A320,
B757-767-A321, and A330 respectively, with F/O's top of scale being $85.38/$112.70/
$123.96/136.36, and a 5% pay raise for all categories in each year thereafter.
2. As JNC member (and now Chairman of ALPA International's Negotiating Committee) Donn
Butkovic stated at our recent BOS LEC Meeting, our pay proposals are both "reasonable and
obtainable."
3. If Management's May proposal is, as Captain Holland states, "two-tiered, topping out at
$149 and $156/hour," with "little chance" of an increase in current E190 rates, then for this Rep
their proposal is DOA.
This could be a long, hot summer.
See you on the Picket Line.
In Solidarity,
Garland
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U-Turn and the Company’s End Game
[Time draws near for us to brace ourselves for the final push by the company and
our MEC to get us to vote on a concessionary TA. The company is preparing a final
offer for our JNC on May 8/9. The two MECs will jointly discuss the company plan
during a special meeting scheduled for the following week in May. Here is what we
have heard at U-Turn. Our sources include the company, ALPA National, our own
MEC/JNC, and unofficial East and West sources as well.]
Starting with the last negotiating session, US Airways President and COO Scott
Kirby is making his presence known at the table. It appears that Jerry Glass is
taking a lesser role during the company’s final push. Perhaps Mr. Kirby has finally
realized that it may not be the Jet Stream that is totally responsible for our current
operational problems.
[We at U-Turn can’t emphasize enough that individual pilot action is a big no-no. If
you engage in your own brand of “self-help,” be prepared for the consequences.
Unauthorized, extra-curricular behavior makes you a target and a hostage. Not a
good choice. DON’T DO IT!]
Also on the personnel front, company scheduling guru and numbers man Tom
Chiodo is seeking other employment opportunities. In the polite vernacular, “he is
no longer with US.” It allegedly had to do with some costing numbers that were off
by a rather large factor of ten. Mike Finn seems to be on a shorter leash as the
company attempts a kinder, gentler approach, so to speak.
U-Turn believes that the company’s final “final” will include a modest pay raise, but
nowhere close to our $165/$181/$190 demand of last November. We expect the rates
to be two-tiered, topping out at $149 and $156/hour. The 1 to 3.25 trip rig will most
likely still be a part of the proposal, but only if we accept 8:30 rest. There may
actually be three rates, if you include the E190 rates, from which we see little chance
of the company increasing.
Per the MEC, the company’s final “final” will be presented on May 8th and 9th. The
company may even hold the sessions out here in PHX, granting the East their longdenied
contractual right to positive space travel. If that gesture proves to be the case,
then we’ve got to believe the company wants this TA approved by the MEC and
voted on by mid June.
We at U-Turn believe that the company is not going to be interested in a short two
or three-year contract. EXPECT THE MAX: the company will most likely propose
a five-year contract, with perhaps one 2.5% pay raise after three years.
Will the company be able to get an approval from the combined MECs to “endorse,
support and recommend” their final “Final” to their respective pilot groups? Never
underestimate the power of the carrot and the stick. The timing already smells of
new aircraft orders, the exotic Orient and expansion…if only you were willing to…
we would be willing to…
If the company’s supporters on our JNC have anything to say about it, the JNC will
Page 2 of 3
4/11/2007
put the hard sell on the MECs the week of May 15th. East negotiator Donn
Buttkovic is holding his own in defending 8:30 rest. He has managed to hold down
East objections with his arguments that 9:30 rest will make many fewer trips less
commutable…an argument that rings loud and clear back “East.” Color it the
“SOFT FUD” approach. No jobs lost, just days off lost.
In return for his work “on all our behalf,” Captain Buttkovic has picked up a few
kudos of his own along the way. He is a check airman (on hiatus, of course) and most
recently, he was tapped by ALPA President John Prater to be chairman of the
ALPA National Negotiating Committee. A suitable place for one whose negotiating
skills are obviously wasted merely negotiating with the company and which are
better suited in selling POSTAs nation-wide.
We are in the eleventh hour of negotiations. What we vote on will most likely be our
contract for the next five years or longer. But we as a union right here in Council
062 can stop that clock in its tracks. We can send the strongest message possible to
the company that we will not accept givebacks, concessions or remaining at the
bottom of the ALPA Pack.
It starts with your right as a rank and file union member to send the appeasers and
the concessionaires packing. Join us in supporting the RECALL of Captain Rep CJ
Szmal and First Officer Rep Mike Bendett. The balloting closes Tuesday morning.
Time to make a change and send a message to the company: NO CONCESSIONS!
Vote IN FAVOR of the recalls.
https://ballotpoint.com/alpa
Herb Holland, for U-Turn"
